Brick-machine



(No Model. 5 sheets-sheet 1.

H. AIKEN/ BRICK MACHINE.

No. 459,878. R H P888118 Sept. 22, 1891. F7 W (N1) Model.) 5 Sheets-Shet H. AIKEN.

BRICK MACHINE.

No. 459,878. Paterled Sept. 22, 189.1.

la 1 m l a n mW XNVENTOR,

' l 44/7 1, i kw WITNESSES.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

H. AIKEN. BRICK MACHINE.

Elm-459,878.

Patented Sept. 22,1891.

ALWW/y 'NITNE'JSES ewmm (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

H. AIKEN.

BRICK MACHINE.

Patefited Sept. 22, 1891 Q Q 0 O 9 m '(No Model.) 5 SneetsSheet 5.

H. AIKEN.

BRICK MACHINE. No. 459,878. Patented'Sept. 22,1891.

vvxmessaa Y INVENTOR.

UN IT'ED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

HENRY AIKEN, OI. HOMESTEAD, PENNSYLVANIA.

BRICK-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 459,87 8, dated September 22,1891.

Serial No. 307.926- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY AIKEN, of Homostead, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have in vented a new and useful Improvementin Brick-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which I Figure 1 is afront elevation of my improvement. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a vertical section on the line H II of Figs. 1 and 3. Fig. 3 is aplan view of'the machine; Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section of the mechanism for rotating the mold-wheel. Fig. 5 is an enlarged Yplan view of :the pawl-segment operated by the rack shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a plan View of the mold-wheel. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the ratchet-wheel operated by the pawl shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on-the line VIII VIII of Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is y a vertical section on the line IX IX of Fig. 8.

Like symbolsof reference indicate like parts in each.

In the drawings, 2 represents the power-cylinder of the press, which forms the base of the machine and may be supported by a suitable fiange, as shown in Fig. 2.

3 is the fluid-supply port, and at the ram, provided with suitabie packing 5.

The frame-work of the press is constituted by upright. rods or bolts 13 C D E, which pass through wings of the cylinder 2 and at their upper ends are provided with a cap-plate or entablature (i, which is supported from below -by tubular separators 7, interposed on the bolts 0, D, and E between the entablature and the cylinder.

8 S are nuts at the ends of the uprightbolts by which the'part-s of the machine are drawn and held together. p

9 is the mold-wheel, made in circular form and adapted to rotate on the bolt ll as an axis;

as shown in Figs. 2.and 3. The wheel is in structure ahollow frame, and-is provided with a series of mold-matrices 10, securely bolted therein by bolts 10. The base of the hub of the mold-wheel rests upon the surface of a frame 11,- at the periphery of which is bolted a block 13, which is formed in the segment of a circle whose center is the bolt ll and serves as a guide for the plungers 12'of the moldmatrices. Theseplungers are simple blocks made of substantially the same cross-section as the matrices within which they fit, their bases projecting below the mold-wheel and resting on the surface of the guide 13. The frame 11 encircles the bolt B and at the base is bolted to the power-cylinder, as shown in Fig. 2. The guide 13 is not a complete circle in peripheral outline, (see Fig. 8;) but the complete circle is made up by the head-piece let of the rain t, which is of segmental form and fits within the gap of the guide. The complete guide 13 1 1 thus formed constitutes a circular track on which the bases of the plunger-s 12 travel during the rotation of the mold-wheel, and which is so inclined that it shall automatically ef,-.

feet the elevation of the mat-riX-plungers to eject the compressed and molded bricks and shall permit their descent to enable fresh material to be charged into the matrices. Thus, referring to Figs. 2, 8, and 9, (in Fig. 8 of which the arrows a indicate the direction of inclination, and the arrows a the direction of motion of the mold-wheel,) the part a ct of the guide, including part of the ram-head, is level, the part (1 e on the ram-head is inclined, the part efon the ram-head is level. he part f g is inclined, the part g h is level, and the part 7L 0 is inclined.

In the drawings I have shown the machine provided with six matrices, and by mechanism hereinafter described the mold-wheel is adapted to be rotated intermittently throughout one-sixth of a revolution, so that at each tion of the machine in pressing bricks, and

- shall then describe particularly the mechanism by which the motions of the machine are effected. 1 Suppose one of the matrices in the mold-wheel to be directly above theranl in the position marked m in Fig. 3 and to be charged with the material from which the bricks are made. The fluid under pressure is now admitted into the cylinder 2, and the ram is thus elevated, so as to raise the 1noldbrick-stuff within the matrix against the base of the block 15. The ram is then retracted I shall now describe generally the opera-.

partial revolution it shall bring one of the plunger 12 and to cause it to compress the 25 being now elevated on which the mold-wheel is by exhausting the motive fiuid,and the moldwheel is turned througha sixth revolution, so as to carry the matrix under consideration from beneath the block 15 into the position m. In this motion the passing of the plunger over the inclined portion (1 e raises the plunger somewhat in the matrix and partially ejects the compressed brick. The ejection of the brick may be aided by further raising the hydraulic ram slightly after the mold has :5 tightly as to resist the upward force occasioned by the movement of the mold -plungers over the incline. The mold-Wheel now remains at rest until another brick is pressed. Then a second sixth the plunger then resting on the inclinefg. The next sixth revolution of the mold-wheel carries the matrix into the position m which is illustrated in Fig. 2, the plunger the fiat portion g h to its highest position, so as to have ejected the brick, which is then removed. At the next sixth revolution the matrix-plunger, during the passage of the matrix over the incline h 0 into the position m descends to itslowest positiomand when in such position the matrix is charged with brick-stuff. During the next two partial revolutions the ma trix passes on the flat portions 0 (Z of the guide into the positions m and m successively, and

in the latter position is again in readiness to form a brick. This completes a cycle of operation of the mold-wheel, during which six bricks (the number corresponding to the num- 4o ber of matrices) are formed.

I shall now describe the mechanism by rotated. 16 is a ratchet-wheel, which is mounted axially 'on the upright bolt B and is fixed to the moldwheel by bolts 17 or otherwise. The shape in vertical section of this ratchet-wheel is shown in Fig. 2 and its shape in plan View is shown in Fig. 7. There are six teeth on the ratchet, corresponding in number to the matrices of the mold-wheel, and the pawl,.which is adapted to engage said teeth, is carried by an annular collar 18, which loosely encircles the hub of the ratchet, being for this purpose made in separable parts, as shown in Fig. 5,

and provided at its periphery with a segmental series of gear-teeth 19.

The collar 18 is preferably made in the form of a hollow annular shell, as shown in Fig. 2, the toothed.

flange of which fits over the peripheryof the ratchet-wheel, While the other portions of the collar fit around the hub of the ratchet on each side of the latter. The pawl 20 consists of an arm pivoted by a bolt 21 within the hollow flange 18 and provided with a spring 22, which tends to press its projecting outer end against the toothed periphery of the ratchet, as shown in Fig. 3. 'lheratchet is revolution carries the 20 matrix first mentioned into theposition m operated by rotation of its collar 18 on its ratchet does not produce motion of the latter, but merely causes the pawl to slip idly over the ratchetteeth. The rotation of the collar 18 is effected by means of a rack 23, which is supported by the entablature 6, so as to be free to move horizontally, as shown in Fig. 4. This rack is actuated by a piston 2i of a power-cylinder 25, which is suitably secured by bol ts 26 or otherwise to the entablature or frame of the machine. If the valve of this cylinder be put into position to admit motive fluid to the rear of the piston and to project the latter to its full extent, the longitudinal movement of the rack 23 thereby rotates the collar 18 and by means of the pawl 20 produces a one-sixth revolution of the ratchet 16 and of the mold-wheel to which the ratchet is secured, and by admitting the motive fluid to the forward side of the piston, and thereby retracting it and the rack-bar, the collar 18 is caused to rotate idly on the ratchet and to retract the pawl into position for engagement with the next tooth of the ratchet, as will be readily understood.

The valves by which the fluid-supply to the pressurecylinder and to the motor-cylinder 25 is governed are situate in a convenient place, so as to be under the control of one IHELU.

I shall now describe certain details of construction of the machine which increase its eificiency and ease of= operation. A tubular lining or sleeve 31 is preferably interposed between the bolt B and the hubs ofthe ratchet and mold-wheel, bearing at one end on the under side of the entablature and at the other end on the surface of the block 11. The mold-wheel is adjusted vertically in proper position by means of annular washers 0r liners 27.

In order that the bricks may be properly formed by the machine, it is necessary that the block 15, against which they are pressed, should fit neatly on the surface of the matrices. For this purpose I employ the adjusting mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2. he block 15 is secured to the under side of the entablature by means of vertical bolts-28, and to adjust the block vertically I employ a wedge-shaped plate 29, which fits between the block and the entablature and is com nected to the latter by means of a horizontal bolt 30, which projects from the entablature and passes through a head at the end of the wedge-plate. By turning the bolt 30 the wedge-plate may be projected or retracted to permit vertical motion of the block 15 in either direction, and when properly adjusted by these means the block may be locked in position by tightening the bolts 28.

The construction of the entablature by which it is caused to serve as a support for the rack 23 and as a resistance piece or frame against which the brick is pressed is shown produced IOL' in the several figures of the drawings. It consists of a strong metal plate provided with collars adaptedto fit on the heads of the bolts B O D E and provided with vertical strengthening webs or ribs radiating from the center of the plate to said bolts.

' The advantages of my invention will be appreciated by those. skilled in the art.

The machine may be varied in many ways by the skilled mechanic without departing from the principles of my invention, the items of which are stated distinctly in the following claims.

By means of the machine wh ch I have shown very great pressure can be exerted upon bricks in the mold-matrices and bricks of great density of composition can be produced.

I claimi I.- In a brick-machine, the combination of the rotatory mold-wheel having matrices and plungers, the reciprocating hydraulic ram, a

cylinder in which the ram moves and which forms the base -of themachine, and a guide for the plungers, part of said guide being on the machine-frame and part on the ram,sub-- stant-ially as and for the purposes described.

2. In a brick-machine, the combination of the reciprocating pressure-motor comprising a cylinder, ram, and an entablature,bol t s con; necting them, a mold-wh'eehcarrying plungers, and a guide for the plungers mounted axially on one of the bolts and supported by the cylinder,substantially as and for the purposes described. l

3. In a brick-machine, the combination,- with the pressure-motor consisting of cyliu-' der and ram, of a cap or entalolature against which the pressure of the machine when in action is exerted, bolts or rods connecting the same with the stationary element of the motor, and a mold-wheel mounted axially on one of said bolts or rods, and supported by the cylinder, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. In a brick-machmeQthe combination;

with the pressure-motor consisting of cylinder and ram, of a cap or entablature against same with the stationary element of the motor,

which the, pressure of the machine when in action is exerted, bolts orro ds connecting the a mold-wheel, and a power-cylindermounted on the. entablature and adapted to ro'tate'the mold-wheel, substantially asand for the purure cylinder, and ram, of a ratchet secured to the mold-wheel, and a pawl loosely mounted on the ratchet, and mechanism for actuating the pawl, substantially as and for the purposes described. 6. In a brick-machine, witha rotatory mold-wheel, of a ratchet wheel 16, having a hub secured to the mold-wheel, and a rotatory pawl-collar mounted on the ratchet-wheel, substantially as and for the purposes described. r

7. In a brick machine, the combination, with a rotatory mold-wheel, of a ratchet secured thereto, a pawl loosely mounted onthe the combination,

ratchet, gear-teeth connected witlkjillepawl,

,andatoothed rackfsubstantiallyas and for the purposes described.

8.. In combination with the ratchel-wheellfi, a pawl-collar made in two or more parts,said pawl-collar being hollow or double, so as to fit on the ratchet-wheel on both sides and over a part of the pcripherythereof, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimonywhereot I hereunto set my hand this 12th day of April, A. D. 1889.

HENRY AIKEN.

\Vitnesscs:

IV. I. POTTER, JNo. K. SMITH. 

